Warning Some Violence:
Chapter 38: School Gym 1 hour after final bell
"Well, how's it look?" Shane asked as he put the finishing strokes on
the final booth.
Gently guiding the booth back into an upright position, Matthew took a
step back to inspect his cousin's project. "It looks good man, perfect for
the Renaissance fair."
"Thanks" Shane replied grabbing a small brush and touching up one of
the corners before explaining. "We're lucky they saved the booths from
last years' winter carnival. It saved us a lot of time."
"True" Matthew agreed before looking over at the mound of stuffed
animals and other donated items before continuing. "Between the booths
and the donations, I think we are going to make out just fine on Friday."
"Looks like it" Shane replied before continuing. "Lucky that Mr. Vega
just wanted to let Des know that that stuff had arrived, she could have
gotten in a lot of trouble for what she did this morning."
"You got that right." Matthew added his anger surging at the site of
Nate shooting hoops with Dani, Jack and Darren at his side.
"Hey cool it buddy." Shane ordered grabbing his arm and reasoning.
"We don't need you getting in trouble either."
"You're right" Matthew conceded turning back to help Shane gather up
the supplies and chuckling. "You know what this means, don't you?
"Of course I do." Shane admonished dumping his paint brushes into a
can of water before turning back to his cousin and explaining. "It means
you almost have her Matt and you can't let those losers blow it for you!"
Nodding an affirmative, Matthew reasoned glancing over at Nate.
"Don't worry Shane; I love Des too much to blow it now and speaking of
having her… I might just have to hold her all that much closer. To keep
her safe and out of trouble I mean."
Shaking his head with a smirk and putting the lid back on his paint
can, Shane laughed. "Oh yeah we can't have her worming her way out of
the bet by getting herself suspended now can we?"
"Most definitely not" Matthew agreed a sly smile forming on his mouth
as he looked across the hall to the auditorium.
"What are you thinking?" Shane asked following Matt's gaze, dropping
his hand on his shoulder and shaking his head with a smile.
"Just ways of keeping Des close, out of trouble, protected and
preferably right in my arms." Matt replied tearing his eyes away to the
auditorium to look sideways at his cousin with a troubled look on his face.
"So what's the problem?" Shane asked shrugging his shoulders clearly not understanding what was bothering his cousin.
"The problem is how." Matt whispered looking around to make sure no
one was listening.
"Simple Matt, Des has talents and you just have to use some of them
to your advantage." Shane snickered before leaning into explain.
"I think I most definitely like those ideas." Matthew responded his
smirk returning as he again turned to stare at the auditorium and
thinking. "Oh yes Des, your talents are going to be made quite useful for
the next couple of days."
Watching the realization set in, Shane smiled before grabbing his book
bag and stating with a broad smile. "And now that that is settled, I've got
my own lady waiting."
Reaching out and grabbing the boy's arm, Matthew shook his head
before asking. "Shane, why don't you wait for Des with me and then we
can all head on over together?"
"Don't worry I'll be fine besides dueshbag over there is busy." Shane
whispered back gesturing towards Jack before bending down and tossing
the tarp to his older cousin and hinting. "Besides I do believe that you
have important matters to discuss with a certain somebody."
Laughing silently and catching the tarp, Matt asked "You're sure you'll
be alright?"
Shane's only response was to wave back as he strode out of the
gymnasium.
Ten minutes later:
"What the hell is wrong with this stupid thing?" Matthew cursed when
his third attempt at folding the tarp ended in failure.
"Having problems?" Destiny asked giggling from the doorway.
Startled at the intrusion, Matthew dropped half the tarp and threw the
rest of it down on the floor in frustration before looking over at the beauty
who had stolen his heart and laughing embarrassed. "Obviously, Care to
help?"
"Oh, I don't know you seem to be doing just fine on your own." Destiny
teased looking from Matt's red face to the tarp sprawled out on the floor.
"Ha, Ha you're funny Evans." Matthew admonished before pointing and
ordering. "Now get over and help me out here."
"Ok, ok I'll help." Destiny relented coming over and grabbing a side of
the tarp as Matt picked up the other."
"So where's your partner?" Destiny asked coming forward to match
corners with Matt.
"Who Shane?" Matt asked quietly folding his fingers around Destiny's
as they matched corners.
"Yeah, I thought he was helping you." Destiny responded nervously
feeling the hair on the back of her neck stand up as Matthew's fingers slid
up and down the back of hers.
"He was, but he had to catch up with a certain someone." Matt
explained quietly leaning in close enough to see the effect his
ministrations were having on her. "Oh yes Shane's plan was perfect and
he would definitely be enjoying the next couple of days." He thought
biting back a chuckle as he leaned in even closer. "Hey Des?" He asked.
"Yeah" She answered her lips trembling as she could feel his warm
breath against her.
"I wanted to ask you…"Matt began before looking up after hearing a
basketball bounce off the rim and hit the floor and panicking. "Oh, shit,
where is he?"
"Where's who?" Destiny asked startled before following Matthew's
gaze over towards Nate, Dani and Darren.
"Jack that's who" Matthew replied looking around the gym before
explaining. "He was right over there with them when Shane left."
"You think?" Destiny asked the color draining from her face.
"Dam it; we've got to go now!" Matthew hissed dropping the tarp into
the pile, grabbing Destiny's hand and hurrying out of the gym towards his
car.
15 Minutes Later: Just outside Buena's Dias
"Phew, I made it with time to spare." Shane thought looking at his
watch and smiling in relief as the popular café came into view before
hitting the pavement hard after a shove from behind.
Grimacing in pain, Shane froze at the sound of familiar voices from
behind.
"Well, well look who we have here guys?" Jack snickered to his friends
before looking down at Shane with a vicious smile.
"Leave me the hell alone Manning?" Shane whispered hatefully
attempting to rise only to be forced back down by Jack's foot as Brad
kicked him painfully in the ribs.
"What did you say, Wheezy?" Jack asked digging his knee into Shane's
back while yanking his head backwards by the hair.
"First he steals you girl and now I believe he's giving you orders,
Manning." Justin laughed before looking down at the pinned boy and
taunting "As if you were in any position to be making demands, Morasco"
before kicking him sharply in the shoulder.
"Is that right? You giving me orders now Wheezy?" Jack hissed pulling
Shane's head further backwards eliciting a moan of pain from the boy
before yanking him back to his feet.
"What do you have to say for yourself now Wheezy?" Brad asked
coming closer and punching Shane in the stomach.
"Go to hell." Shane spit back while jabbing his elbow backwards to hit
Jack squarely in the ribs.
"Son of a bitch" Jack hissed grabbing at his ribs with one hand before
pushing Shane forward against the two brothers and commanding. "Hold
him still"
Seeing that his friends had complied, Jack sucked in his breath,
advanced on Shane and promised. "You're going to pay for that Wheezy
and Jamie too" before proceeding to punish the youth further with
multiple blows to the face, stomach and ribs until he was yanked
backwards and flung against the fence.
"What the hell?" Jack asked turning to face his new adversary only to
be met with a fist to the face.
"What's wrong Manning, you afraid to face someone in a fair fight?
Matthew asked grabbing the younger boy by the collar and slamming him
back up against the fence.
"Mind your own dam business Buchannon. This doesn't concern you."
Jack ordered advancing on the older boy only to be sidestepped and
tripped.
"Come on Manning, let's see how you do one on one." Matthew
suggested motioning for Jack to come at him.
"You want a fight Buchannon. You've got one." Jack hissed regaining
his footing and charging at Matthew's midsection only to land on his
backside as Matthew dropped down and threw him over his shoulder.
Cut to inside the Buena's Dias:
"Jamie checking your watch for the fifteenth time is not going to get
Shane here any quicker." Carlotta admonished her granddaughter as she
helped her set the last of the tables.
Blushing slightly at being caught, Jamie explained. "It's just that he
was supposed to be here 15 minutes ago."
"Well he will get here, when he gets here." Christian interrupted
before handing Jamie a small crate and stating. "Take this outback and
then we are all set here."
"Smiling in relief, Jamie took the crate and headed outside only to
dash back in shouting. "Uncle Christian help they're going to kill him."
"What, who?" Christian asked tearing off his apron and meeting Jamie
at the door.
"It's Shane, Matt and Des are trying to help, but they're hurting him."
Jamie cried in a panic.
"Where?" Christian asked before yelling "Marco" and hurrying out the
door after his niece.
Cut back to street:
"You like what you see Morasco?" Brad asked through clenched teeth
as Shane tried in vain to pull free.
"Too bad he won't be able to help you any." Justin taunted grabbing
Shane's shirt with one hand and hitting him one more time in the face
before heading over to attack Matthew from behind.
"No, leave him alone." Destiny shouted running up behind Justin
grabbing his arm and digging her nails into the side of his face.
"You bitch." Justin shouted grabbing at his cheek before turning and
backhanding Destiny hard across the face knocking her to the ground.
"Destiny" Shane and Matthew shouted in unison as Justin's fist struck
Destiny upper cheek.
"Dam you" Shane shouted decking Brad once his arm was free before
stomping on his foot and turning to follow Matthew who had charged
ahead at Justin, his fists flying until they found they hit their mark.
"Hey" Christian shouted as he and Marco raced towards the group.
"Run" Jack hollered before taking off down the road, Brad and Justin
not far behind as Jamie ran into Shane's arms and Matthew gathered
Destiny in his, his anger turning to relief that Justin hadn't had time to
hurt her more than he had.
"Oh my god, Shane." Jamie cried looking up and taking a long look at
the bruises covering his face before placing her cheek to his chest and
squeezing him tighter against her.
"I'm fine." Shane lied disentangling himself and trying to force a smile
to avoid grimacing as he sucked in another painful breath before shaking
his head as Marco indicated that he should take a seat.
"Everyone ok?" Christian asked walking back to the remaining teens
and calling each of their names individually. "Matt, Des, Shane, you guys
alright.
"I'm alright." Destiny answered as Matthew helped her back into a
standing position against him.
Smiling in relief at the young girl, Christian's eyes shifted to the boy
who had her pressed tightly against him as if he was holding on for dear
life and was greeted by a stiff affirmative nod.
Nodding wearily at the angry boy, Christian called out to the boy
behind him. "Shane how about you, you alright?" Not getting a response,
he turned just in time to hear Jamie shout "Shane" as she and Marco tried
unsuccessfully to grab the boy as he collapsed on the pavement.